Sunny Sangria Bar

Treat your guests to a fun sangria bar. We typically think of sangria as being red or pink, but this bar will celebrate summer with cheerful orange and yellow accents. We’ll use white wine as a base and offer many different choices so guests can mix up their own unique concoctions—from strong to sweet and everything in between.

You Will Need:

White wine

Vodka

Unsweetened iced tea (herbal & green)

Lemonade

Stevia powder

Orange slices

Mandarin oranges

Lemon slices

Chopped mango

Pineapple tidbits

Honey for drizzling

Ice

Serving platters

Pitchers

Glasses

Serving spoons and tongs

First, decide where to set up the bar. You’ll want to make sure all the ingredients stay nice and cold, so inside would be the easiest spot. However, if your heart is set on having the bar outside, prepare to fill large serving dishes with lots of ice. You can put the beverage bottles, pitchers and serving dishes of ingredients in the ice bins you’ve created.

Gather the liquids. We’ll be using white wine as a base, so purchase one bottle for every four people. That will allow for approximately two drinks per guest. Chill the wine ahead of time. Provide a cold bottle of vodka for those who want to add an extra kick in their drink. Unsweetened iced tea is a creative addition to sangria—perhaps offer an herbal and a green variety so people can choose whether or not they want caffeine. Making lemonade with stevia (an herb and calorie-free sugar substitute in the form of powder) would also be a tasty option.

Prepare the fruit. Slice quartered oranges and lemons to place on a platter. Arrange in rows, alternating to have fun with the color, or set them out in a simple flower or a circular pattern. Chopped mango can go in its own bowl, as can pineapple tidbits or mandarin oranges. If you used canned fruit, you could either pour the fruit and liquid into the bowl, or separate them. The liquid, likely syrup or juice, might be a tasty addition to sangria and could be displayed next to the fruit bowls in its own container.

For final touches, you could create tent-style labels or write a few sample recipes on cardstock. Perhaps include honey in a squeeze bottle so folks can drizzle the inside of their glass with something sweet before mixing up their drink. Once everything is setup, it’s crucial to make yourself a test beverage while you wait for guests to arrive!